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Hi Everyone!

My name is Ki Chong and I’m the mayor of the Phnom Penh Hub in Cambodia. It’s a small 3D printing community here, but I think there’s a lot of potential for it to grow, which is why I started the first 3D printing business here.

Anyway we are going to have our first 3D Hubs meetup in Phnom Penh at this event: https://www.3dhubs.com/phnom-penh/events/cambodia-science-engineering-fair

Since Cambodia and South East Asia in general has a very nascent 3D printing community, I was wondering if any of you mayors had suggestions on how to grow the community. Would be especially helpful if you have experience in developing countries because as you may know it’s very different working here than in developed countries. Maybe we could have a South East Asia mayor hangout (since we’re in similar time zones) or a “developing countries” mayor hangout to discuss our experience and exchange ideas.

Also if you know anyone that will be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this week, please let them know about the First Cambodia Science & Engineering Fair and help send them the event link: https://www.3dhubs.com/phnom-penh/events/cambodia-science-engineering-fair.

Look forward to hearing your ideas or speaking soon!

Thanks!

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Hi @ARC_Hub

Cool that you’re doing an event! I think it is wise to begin with something practical to build with 3D printing. Learn hem how and show them results. Helping other organisations/companies/people with cool designs.

I hope that you can use my tip.

Good luck!
Barry

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Great initiative! It may be worthwhile reaching out to a university or school in the area - from my experience, students and teachers are some of the most interested in the technology. Seeing 3D printing in person is way better than reading about it. Judging by the event title, you may already be doing this though.

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Its an awesome event and I think that we can really help these countries with 3D Printing. @CharlotteJ together with @martinv77 actually organizing an E-nable event here in the Netherlands in the near future, so we are actually seeing some activity. It would be Interesting to share ideas about it from different perspectives being in the different parts of the world, yet having the same goal.

As for education, @3Dmaker4U is organizing some pretty cool things in university, just basically showing off the technologies for students that are passing by in the universities. I also think that education is the key and lets hope you inspire some great minds for the future. Good luck @ARC_Hub!

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Hi Ki!

Since Arnoldas mentioned about me, let me provide you with a few of my thoughts:

  • Simple things work great! Grab an idea from your daily life, call a few (a couple works fine :slight_smile: friends with 3D printers, find a “bigger” friend who can host the event (universities work great), announce the event and do it.
  • Education comes first! You’re right, put effort into educating people and you’ll be rewarded through unexpected means. And just remember: developing or developed is not so much a difference when we talk 3D printing. Try to find some (small) funding to organize courses in schools and high-schools. Building a 3D printer that will remain in school will be a great result in this phase.
  • Look around! No idea for the next event? Look around - you’ll find a dozen at each step. And lots of people interested in that.
  • Be present! Don’t really know how Internet works in Cambodia, but if it does, be there each day with something and enlarge the network every day. Even if it is not so spread, be patient and persevere.
  • Keep close to 3D Hubs! Since you’re a mayor you cannot miss that, huh?! But really, take advantage of a really great community.

Keep it up and good luck!

Daniel

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Thank you for all the comments and advice and we will definitely stay close to the 3D Hubs community! The festival was a big success and got over 9000 visitors, which is a big deal for a science/ tech/ engineering event in Cambodia. We actually got mentioned in the city newspaper and they even used a picture of E-nable’s hand that we 3D printed for the festival as the main picture!

Take a look at the link below for the article: